I started growing my own two years ago. First year I lost it all. Couldn't get the little guys going. Second year was great and harvested last fall. A small patch and I let some seed. On new years eve after air drying in my new big shed/barn I took some leaves down and rolled a couple cigars. Best darn things I ever tasted. My wife even smoked one and said she would stop making fun of me. My neigbors all had a nice cigar that night. My brother loved them and he is a real cigar affectionado. I still have some left from then. Good luck and tend to them. I did have a problem last year with those pesky tobbaco worms(they eat everything on them).

I didn't want to use pesticides so I picked them off ever day. I read some where that turkeys can pick them off, so I got some turkeys this year as pest removers and thanksgiving will be good this year as well.

All of your activities in the garden could be used for some other occupation that earns more dollars per hour. Your barn could be used to rent out to others. Just because you don't write checks doesn't mean the costs are not there.

Dear Lord, you are absolutely dense, aren't you????????

Did you even bother to read what I wrote??????? I am a FULL TIME STAY AT HOME MOM.......that earns me NOTHING monetarily. Are you suggesting that I should be out in the workforce earning money and paying someone else to take care of my child instead of being home saving money and teaching my daughter valuable skills?

You are an absolute lunatic if you think that I should be doing something else to earn money. But you're a money man and have absolutely no understanding of the intangibles that are worth far more to some people than the almighty dollar.

Rent out my barn? You need to get a clue. Not write checks? I write plenty - I know exactly what my costs are for everything I do. I may not have the letters "CPA" after my name, but my accountant asked me why I bothered having her do my taxes this year because I already had everything organized properly - to me it was worth paying her to do the 2 states and fed and file them for me. Just like like it is worth more to me to have my child home with me and work in my garden than it is to have a paying job and have her in daycare.

I admit, when it comes to machine sewing, I'm pretty much self taught because I wasn't interested in it when I was 13/14 - I learned enough to make myself a couple of gored skirts and scoopnecked shirts - and then I never touched a sewing machine until I was pregnant (she will be 7 next week and I'm 44) Pillows, blankets, curtains are about the extent of my repetoire :)

Cheepers FReepers!

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I actually just responded to someone on this thread who claims my garden activities could be used for another occupation paying more money.

I will reuse the freezer bags if they didn't contain raw meat, poultry or fish...or didn't get stained with tomato products.

I roll out a beautiful carton for a little under $8 dollars. Premiums in my state are now up to $45-$50 a carton. Can you imagine the money I have saved over the past 4 years since I now roll my own? It's mind boggling.

Hmmm, running the math here. My next cigarette will be my first, so if I start smoking - will I actually start making money?

214
posted on 06/22/2005 3:30:39 PM PDT
by Hank Rearden
(Never allow anyone who could only get a government job attempt to tell you how to run your life.)

I found a lot of weeds, Mickey D's for my daughter and a game of trivia with friends with a beer for me :) The Garden center has to wait until Friday for me. And after paying a bunch of bills in between all of that - I'm really not in the mood for more weeds........but they are out there....*SIGH*

I have always been supportive of folks I know who have chosen to stop smoking...........several of them have gone the control freak route expecting everyone else to do the same - to a one I have told them I regret the concessions I made for them during their time of "duress".........the funny thing I have found is with the folks I know who have stopped smoking - it's the ones that always complained in the beginning are the ones that become the antis. Folks that just said "no more" never go the nanny route.

Man! I've been looking into this the past week or so myself. I'm going to smoke. Can't help it. I've been looking into rolling machines and filters but I have no idea from there. Can you recommend a decent machine I could possibly pick up down at the tobacco shop? I'm really amazed by all this. I've heard I can get the cost-per-cigarette down from 20 cents to 5 cents. Amazing I came upon this thread. Can't believe it!

228
posted on 06/22/2005 6:29:52 PM PDT
by Types_with_Fist
(I'm on FReep so often that when I read an article at another site I scroll down for the comments.)

Ya left out a step or two there Mountain man. First, it's too late in the year to plant seed. Actually too late to plant plants. Must begin in Feb. with a steamed plant bed for seeds. Keep covered with cloth until danger of frost is past. Transplant to field, replant those that die. As they grow break off the "suckers" that sprout between the leaves. Pick off the Tobacco Worms and squish them between thumb and fingers(at least 3 worms per plant). When the dark tobacco is about 4-5 feet tall, cut at base, string onto tobacco stake and take to the barn and hang the stakes between the rafters. After frost start several sawdust fires (hickory is best) and create lots of smoke which "cures" the leaves. In January, fire up the pot-bellied stove in the barn. Take down the stakes and remove the stalks of tobacco. Strip the leaves from the stalk and grade them according to grade. Tie into "hands" and arrange on a pallet. Now the tobacco is ready for sale or use. What a fun crop to grow. Of course you could plant Burley which is easier because you don't have to "fire" it. But Dark Virginia has to be smoke cured.

I can't help that you choose to just pick and choose the parts of my comments you wish to ignore.

I will say it one more time - growing my own crops SAVE me money. Adding another crop to what I am already growing is not going to cost me a danged thing.

And the fact you had the nerve to suggest I could earn more money than I save by getting a job instead of raising my child was a horrendous insult not only to me, but to all stay-at-home-moms and all conservatives.

but SheLion did provide the link to purchase it online earlier in the thread

Thanks. Yes, I'm sorry. I did not have time to look through the whole thread, even though I'm very interested in this. I apologize. I usually DO comb through threads before I post. But thank you very much for answering. I knew somebody would and that I would be able to look in at the main site for answers.

235
posted on 06/22/2005 7:13:04 PM PDT
by Types_with_Fist
(I'm on FReep so often that when I read an article at another site I scroll down for the comments.)

LOL. As I said, I think it's too late in the year for seed. One might be able to still plant some Burley (which is really what one needs for cigarettes. Dark tobacco is for snuff and chewing). Dark tobacco is no fun to grow. When one is growing it for market it takes 13 or 14 months to get a crop from steaming beds to stripping. The crops overlap. Labor intensive crop. Burley is easy by comparison, but you still have to contend with these guys...

I'm aware that it is a labor intensive crop and needs to be started/planted as early as possible - unfortunately I encountered a "problem" that basically cost me 2 months of doing anything but dealing with that. My garden has seriously suffered. I don't even have corn in yet - that's going in tomorrow, along with more chile pepper seeds.

Jeez Louise! Amateurs! Ok - first get your grow lights, cover the basement windows with blackout, you're gonna need some ventilation fans and you should prolly fence the place in, let a couple of pit bulls have run of the place and keep a sharp eye out for revenooers.You gots to keep in mind that your cuttin of the gubmints revenoo so yo'all gots to be keerful! ;-)

245
posted on 06/22/2005 7:37:21 PM PDT
by Tunehead54
(In memory of our bravest in armed service to our nation.)

In Virginia you still have time to plant corn and have a late crop. Same for the peppers. Probably best to plant pepper slips and give them a head-start. You can plant field or blackeye peas for a fall crop.

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